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Shahu Lake Scenic Spot is one of the most unique destinations in Northwest China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shahu Lake, one of the top 10 destinations for holidays in Shizuishan city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region in Northwest China, is surrounded by lush marshlands and desert, and is known as the "pearl of the desert" along the Silk Road.
Located at the foothill of the Helan Mountain, Shahu Lake covers an area of 80.1 square kilometers, including 22.52 sq km of sand and 45 sq km of lake, integrating the beauty of a Jiangnan Watertown and the typical scenery seen beyond the frontier.
Each April, herons and egrets come to nest at Shahu Lake. Black swans, geese and ducks also find their home near the lake.
Apart from enjoying Omega-3-rich fish, visitors can try speed boating and parasailing.The beach near the lake, the location of the 1995 movie A Chinese Odyssey, attracts a large number of visitors who want to take a look at the area where the film was shot.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: May to early October
Opening Hours: 8:30 -17:00 (Admission closes at 16:00.)
Ticket Price: 50 yuan ($7.32)
Free Tickets:
① Children below 6 years old or below 1.2 meters;
② Disabled persons, active servicemen, retired army officers, journalists and those aged 60 or above with valid certificate.
Half Price:
① Minors between the ages of 7 and 18;
② Full-time university bachelor or junior degrees with registered student ID card.
Address: Shahu Lake Scenic Spot, Pingluo county, Shizuishan city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region
Note:
Drink plenty of water and keep your skin moisturized as the air is dry on-site.
2. Protect yourself from sunburn.
3. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sand.
4. The scenic area has been closed temporarily as of Oct 11, 2018.Visitors can get more up-to-date information on the official website.
Shahu Lake Scenic Spot is one of the most unique destinations in Northwest China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park [Photo/nx.gov.cn]
Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park is a national 4A tourist attraction (the second-highest in China's tourist attraction rating system), and perhaps the best ecological wetland in China. It is one of the country's six most beautiful wetland parks, a demonstration site of national leisure agriculture and rural tourism and a national youth outdoor sports camp.
Mingcui Lake National Wetland Park was the third such park, following Xixi National Wetland Park and Suzhou Qinhu National Wetland Park, to be named a national wetland park by the state forestry administration of the People's Republic of China. It is also the first national wetland park of the Yellow River Basin.
The first established and expanding water and land sports base in the northwest integrates outdoor training, science education, leisure, fishing and many other activities.
Self-driving travel route: Grand Unity Square of Yinchuan→Oil city→Zhangzheng town→Mingcui Lake
Tel: 0951-6121966 (Sales department) 0951-6121959 (ticket office)
Fax: 0951-6121900
Email: mingcuihu966@163.com
Add: the east side of Zhangzheng town of Xingqing district, Yinchuan city, Ningxia
Shapotou Scenic Zone [Photo/IC]
Shapotou scenic zone, 16 kilometers west of Zhongwei county in the northwestern Ningxia Hui autonomous region, has become a must-see for tourists who visit Ningxia. Wang Wei, one of the most well-known Chinese poets of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), recorded the beauty of Shapotou in a poem in which he talked about how "in the vast desert rises straight, lonely smoke, the grand, long river reflects the round setting sun".
Shapotou means "the end of a desert" in Chinese. In fact, Shapotou lies at the junction where the Yellow River meets the Tengger Desert, allowing visitors to enjoy both splendid desert scenery and beautiful riverside views.
The park has a plenty of activities on offer, including drifting on the Yellow River and sliding from the top of a sand dune on a sand board.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: May to early October
Opening Hours: 8:00 -- 18:00 during the peak season (April 1 to Oct 31)
9:00 -- 17:00 during the low season (Nov 1 to March 31)
Ticket Price: 80 yuan ($11.7)
Free Tickets:
① Children below 6 years old or below 1.2 meters;
② Disabled persons, active servicemen, retired army officers and those aged 60 or above with a valid certificate.
Half Price:
① Minors between the ages of 7 and 18;
② Full-time university bachelor or junior degree students with a registered student ID card.
Address: Shapotou scenic zone, Zhongwei city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region
Note:
1. Drink plenty of water and keep your skin moisturized as the air is dry on-site.
2. Protect yourself from sunburn.
3. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sand.
4. Visitors can enjoy half-price tickets from Dec 2 to 12 (only adults).
5. Travel insurance is optional.
6. Zhongwei residents can enjoy discounted tickets with a valid ID.
The scenic zone provides visitors with a magnificent view of the Yellow River, the vast desert and its oases. [Photo/IC]
The once barren and bleak Shapotou has evolved into a must-see destination for tourists in the wild west of China. [Photo/IC]
